Veneer-cutting machine.



No. 699,545. Patented May 6, I902. L. a. MEBRITT. VENEER CUTTING MACHINE.

(Application filed June 13, 1901.) (No Model.)

. BY I wt i' g mionugvs Patented May 6, I902.

L. G. MERRITT.

VENEER CUTTING MACHINE.

(Application filed June 18. 1901.)

(No Model.)

2 Sheets-Sheet '2,

llmrm A1 WITN ESSE; 2

INVENTOR M f M I ATTDRNE S "cams rmwsboil'motoumc v UNTTED STATES l PATENT OFFICE.

LOUIS G. MERRITT, OF LOOKPORT, NEW YORK.

VENEER-CUTTING MACHINE.

SEEGIFICATION formingpart of Letters Patent N 0. 699,545, dated. May 6, 1902.

Application filed June 13, 1901.

T0 (tZZ whom it may concern: I

- Be it known that I, LOUIS G. MERRITT, residing at Lockport, in the county of Niagara and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Veneer- Outting Machines, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

My invention relates to veneer cutting machines in which the stock from which the veneer is to be out is rotated or otherwise moved in front of a fixed knife, a-pressnre-bar being positioned to act in conjunction with such knife in producing the veneer.

The objects of my invention are, first, to provide means for adjusting the pressu re-bar toward or from the work bodily by a single operation instead of adjusting the ends independently, as heretofore; second, to provide a new and improved construction wherein the pressure-bar is so mounted that its ends may be independently adjusted or set up to the work when it is so desired; third, to provide a construction wherein the pressure-bar is so mounted that it may be tilted up away from the work or adjusted bodily toward the work, a single eccentric supporting-shaft providing for both of these results; fourth, to provide a new and improved construction wherein the pitch of the knife-carriage may be readily changed; fifth, to provide a pivotal mounting for the knife-carriage such that the center of the pivots is in line with the knifeedge, so that rocking of the knife-carriage upon such pivots will not change the position of such knife-edge; sixth, to provide pivotal supports of the character indicated above for elements, as will be hereinafter explained and the novel features of which will be pointed Serial No. 64,374. (No model.)

out in the claims at the end of the specification.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a front elevation of my pressure-bar and knife-carriage. Fig. 2 is a longitudinal vertical section of the same, taken through the center of the supporting-shaft, parts appearing in' end elevation. Fig. 3 is a rear elevation of the same. Fig. 4 is a section taken on line a; m, Fig. 1. Fig. 5 is a sectional View taken on 'line y 1 Fig. 6 is" an end elevation looking from the left of Fig. 1. 1

Similar reference characters refer to similar parts throughout the several views;

The supporting-blocks A slide in planed ways in the framework of the machine, which framework is not necessary to be shownin illustrating my present invention, and they may be made adjustable therein by the use of gibs or wedges, as will be obvious. The knife-carriage, which comprises end plates B and a longitudinal bar or casting b, pyramidal in cross-section and having the strengthening webs or legs bb is supported by recessed pivots O O,'one' in each end, which restin the slide-blocks A. Thecenters of these pivots are in a direct line with the edge of the knife shown atl, Fig. 4, wherein is shown also by a curved linethe position of the stock or log, which it is understood is to be rotated in suitable chucks in the well-known manner. It accordinglyfollows that when the knife-carriage is rocked the edge of the knife does not change position, although its pitch is changed. The necessity for such change of pitch as the diameter of the log is .reduced, as well as inworking upon various kinds and shapes of timber, is well known. The pivots C aro made largeand heavy, so as to afiord ample bearing-surfaces, and are cut away or recessed by a cut on a curved line which intersects the line of pivots,'as are likewise the bearingsintheslide blocks, as shown at c, in order to allow the main drivespindles of the machine to pass through such recesses, so that the axial line of the stock carried by such drive-spindles may be brought close to the edge of the knife in working upon cores or upon logs of small diameter, theadvantages of which will be readily apparent. The object of enlarging the pivots is to provide ample bearing-surfaces, notwithstanding the fact that a part of the pivots is cut away in making the recesses for the main drive-spindles. The pivots are thus adapted to partially encircle the main drivespindle, and bearing-points are secured Well beyond the line of the knife-edge, where at the same time they do not interfere with the position of the stock close to the knife-edge. The rear of the knife-carriage .is supported by hangers 2 2, which are pivotally or hingedly connected to the carriage between the lugs 3 on each end thereof, the pivot-pin 4: being parallel with the line of pivots O 0, so that the hangers may be swung transversely without changing the positionof the knifecarriage, while a bodily movement of such hangers, as a raising or lowering, will swing the knife-carriage aboutits pivots and change the pitch of the knife.

Shaft 5, extending the length of' the machine, has eccentric ends 6 6, which have bearings in boxes 7, one of which is shown at one end of Fig. 6. These boxes work in planed slots in the slide-blocks A. This shaft 5, which. may be termed the pitch-eccentric, as its eccentricity controls the pitch of the knife, is surrounded by a sleeve or hollow shaft 9, which has hearings in its ends in the hinged hangers 2, so that the pitcheccentric 5 supports the hinged hangers 2 through said sleeve 9, by which it is envel oped and which is free to rotate in its bearings relatively to the shaft 5 and the hangers. At the end of the pitch-eccentric 5 adjacent the box 7 is keyed the worm-wheel 10, operated by worm 11, housed in the hinged hanger 2, as at 12, Fig. 3. By turning the handwhee113 the throw of pitch-eccentric 5 through its connection with the hangers 2 causes the carriage B to turn on its pivots O and change the pitch of the knife 1. Sleeve 9 has at each end bearing parts 17, which are eccentric to the axis of such sleeve,and these bearing parts support the pressure-barcasting 15, which is substantially triangular in cross-section, as shown in Fig. 4, through the collars or bearings 16, provided in connection with the pressure-bar and preferably cast integral therewith, as shown. 19, housed in the pressure-bar casting and operated by hand-wheel 20,revolves the sleeve 9 within these collars or bearings 16. Thus the pressure-bar 15 is supported by eccentric bearings on sleeve 9, and the sleeve 9 may be equal to the throw of the eccentric.

termed the "pressure-eccentric.- As the ends of this pressure-eccentric are journaledin the hangers 2, the turning of said eccentric carries the pressure-bar forward or back a distance This movement is necessarily limited and is intended principally to provide an adjustable pressure of the bar against the stock for purpose's well understood in the art.

' The'object of journaling the ends of, sleeve 9 in the' hangers 2 instead of directly in the knife-carriage ,and of providing a hinged or pivotal connection between such hangers and A worm-wheel 18 and worm the knife-carriage is to provide for adjustment of the opposite ends of the pressure-bar independently with respect to the knife. As shown most clearly in Figs. 5 and 6, the upper end of each hinged hanger'2is provided with a lug 21, through which passes an adjustin g-bolt 22,which passesalso through lug 23 on theend plates of the knife-carriage 13. Bolt 22 is headed at one end, as at-24, and is provided at its other end with washer 25 and nut 26. Accordingly in setting up the pressurebar to the knife each end of the pressure-bar may be adjusted independently by turning up the nut 26 to a proper point on bolt 22, and the hangers may be locked in this adjusted position by means of set-screws 28, which take into the lug 21 and bear against lugs 23, acting in conjunction with bolts 22 to hold the hangers and the pressure-bar in position relatively to the knife-carriage. This position once secured it is rarely necessary to alter it except when a new knife is put on the machine. All other adjustment of pressure is obtained by movement of the pressure-eccentric. Local adjustment of pressure-plate 30 to the knife is made through the set-screws 31, a single one of which is shown in Fig. 4:. Vertical adjustment is obtained through the set-screws 32. The pressure-plate 30 is held to the pressurebar casting by clamp-bar 33, secured to the pressure-bar by screws, as shown. Clamp-stud F clamps the pressurebar and holds it secure when tilted up to get at theknife. Tilt-lever G is depressed in order to swing or tilt the pressure-bar away from the knife for purposes of cleaning, sharpening, &c.,' the sleeve 9 furnishing for this purpose a rocking support for the pressurebar casting, as will be readily apparent.

The operation and advantages of this ma: chine will be readily apparent to those skilled in this art from the foregoing description. The pitch of the knife is adjusted through the hand-wheel 13, worm 11, and wormwheel 10, which rotates the eccentric shaft 5 and swings the rear of the knife-carriage up and down through the hangers 2, at the same time slightly changing the pitch of the pressurebar. The use for this purpose of a hand wheel on which a few turns can be made as required has the advantage of simplicity and gives the required adjustment directly and as the operator sees fit to make the change. In settingcup, the; ends ofthe pressure-bar may be independently adjusted to any desired amount through the bolts 22, acting on the hinged hangers 2. The pressure-bar may be horizontally adjusted through the handwheel 20, worm 19, and segment of wormwheel l8, acting to throw the pressure-eccentric9andthepressure-bartherewith. Sufficient horizontal movement of the pressurebar is provided in this way to allow for different thicknesses of veneer and for variations in pressure, whilea greater adjustment, which will be necessary only at intervals in changing to different styles of work and under ex- ICO treme conditions, is provided for in the adlong machine, the whole bar is moved up from one end. This movement is a known amount, and if the pressure is changed the bar can be returned definitely to its original position. Moreover, there is a gain of power obtained over set-screws and other constructions by using the combination of an eccentric shaftandworm-gearing. 'Byhangingthe pressure-bar upon a sleeve it is free to rock, as on a pivot, and the advantages of this construction as providing means for getting the bar out of the way when it is desired to clear out splinters or sharpen the knife are obvious, as well as the advantage in saving of time and the accuracy which results from the ability to bring the pressure-bar back to exactly the same pressure on the log after such clearing out or sharpening without necessitating a new adjustment.

It will be obvious that the sleeve or hollow shaft 9 is, so far as its relation to the pressurebar is concerned, an actuating or supporting shaft for said pressure-bar, and where the term shaft is used in the claims said term is used broadly. It will also be evident thata shaft having eccentric bearings and a shaft having ordinary bearings, but carrying eccentric collars, are full equivalents as applied to a reciprocating means for a part mounted on such a shaft.

What I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. In a veneer-cutting machine, in combi-'- nation, a pressure-bar having bearing-surfaces in connection'therewith and an eccentric shaft having bearings in said bearingsurfaces, the construction and arrangement being such that the eccentric applies the pressure substantially in a straight line passing through the pressure-plate and the center of the log.

2. In a veneer-cutting machine, in combination, a pressure-bar having bearing-surfaces in connection therewith located near the center ofgravity of said bar and an eccentrio shaft having bearings in said bearing surfaces.

3. -In a veneer-cutting machine in combination a pressure-bar and an eccentric shaft supporting said pressure-bar, the axis of said shaft being located substantially in the horizontal plane of the working edge of said pres sure-bar.

t. In a veneer-cutting machine a pressurebar, an eccentric shaft upon which said bar is pivotally supported and means for rotating said-shaft. 1

5. In aveneer cntting machine a pressurebar, and an'eccentric shaft passing through bearings in said pressure-bar near the center of gravity thereof, whereby said pressure-bar may be adjusted to and from the work by ro tation of such shaft and may be readily tilted upon its bearings about said shaft.

6. In a veneer-cutting machine a pressurebar, an eccentric shaft passing through bearings in said pressure-bar and means for tilting said pressure-bar about said shaft asan axis.

7. In a veneer-cutting machine, in combination, the pressure-bar 15 having bearings 16 in connection therewith, the shaft 9 having eccentric portions 17 in connection with said bearings, and a lever rigid with said pressure-bar whereby the pressure-bar may be rocked upon said eccentric shaft as an axis. 7 8. In a veneer-cutting machine, an eccentrically-mounted'shaft, a sleeve surrounding said shaft, a pressure-bar mounted on eccentrio hearings on said sleeve, a pivoted knifecarriage having hangers connected therewith, said hangers being supported on said sleeve, and means for rotating said sleeve and'said shaft.

9. In a veneer-cutting machine, an eccentrically-mounted shaft, a sleeve surrounding said shaft, a pressure-bar mounted on eccen-' tric hearings on said sleeve, a pivoted knife-v carriage having hangers pivotally connected therewith, said hangers being supported on said sleeve, and means for rotating said sleeve and said shaft independently. 10. In a veneer-cutting machine, in combination, a pressure-bar, bearin gs in connection therewith,an eccentric sleeve passing through said bearings, an eccentric shaft passing through said sleeve, a pivoted knife-carriage, hangers connected to said knife-carriage and providing journals for said sleeve, and a means for rotating said eccentric shaft.

11. In a veneer-cutting machine, in combination a pressure-bar, bearings in connection therewith,an eccentric sleeve passing through said bearings, an eccentric shaft passing through said sleeve, a pivoted knife-carriage, hangers pivotally connected to said knife-carriage and providing journals for said sleeve,

means for rotating said eccentric shaft, and

means for adj ustingthe position of said'hangers, sleeve and shaft without atfectin g the po sition of the knife-carriage.

12. In a veneer cutting machine, in combi nation, a pressure-bar, bearin gs in connection therewith,aneccentric sleeve passing through said bearings, an eccentric shaft passin g through said sleeve, a pivoted knife-carriage,

hangers pivotally connected to said knifecarriage, said sleeve being journaled in said hangers, means for rotating said eccentric shaft, andmeans for adjusting the position of 'said hangers, sleeve and shaft'independe'ntly V at each end of the carriage. j

13. In a veneer-cutting machine, in combination, a pressure-bar, hearings in connection therewith,an eccentric sleeve passing through said bearings, an eccentric shaft passing through said sleeve, apivoted knife-carriage, hangers pivotally connected to said knifeigo carriage andproviding journals for said s1eeve,means for rotating saideccentric shaft, and adjusting-screws connecting said hangers to the knifc carriage whereby said hangers may be independently adjusted toward and from the work.

114.. In a veneer cutting machine, slideblocks adapted for location in ways in a suitable framework, a shafthaving eccentric bearings in said slide-blocks, a sleeve, surrounding said'shaft', a pressure-bar carried b'ysaid sleeve, a knife-carriage having hangers connected therewith, said sleeve being journaled in said hangers, and means for rotating said shaft.

15. Ina veneercutting machine, slideblocks adapted for location in ways in a suitable framework, a shaft having eccentric bearings in said. slide-blocks, a sleeve surrounding said shaft, a pressure-bar carried by said sleeve, a knife-carriage having hangers pivotally connected therewith, said sleeve being journaled in said hangers, and means for rotating said shaft.

16. In a veneer cutting machine, slideblocks adapted for location in ways in a suitable framework, a shaft having eccentric bearingsin, said slide-blocks, a sleeve surrounding said shaft, a pressure-bar carried by said sleeve, a knife-carriage, hangers connected to said knife-carriage by pivots parallel with said shaft, said hangers furnishing journals for said. sleeve at each end thereof, means for rotating said shaft, and means for adj nsting said hangers transversely relatively to the knife-carriage.

17. In a veneer-cutting machine, a shaft having eccentric hearings in suitable slideblocks, a sleeve surrounding said shaft, a pressure-bar carried by said sleeve, a knife-carriage, hangers pivotallyconnected to said carriage, said hangers furnishing journals for said sleeve at each end thereof, means for rotating said shaft, and means for independently adjusting relatively to the knife-carriage the hanger and its connected parts at either'end of said sleeve.

18. In a veneer-cutting machine, in combination, a pressure-barv carried by an eccentric sleeve, a knife-carriage having pivoted hangers connected therewith, said eccentric sleeve being journaled in said hangers, means for rotating said sleeve, and means for rocking said hangers.

19. In aveneer-cutting machine a pressurebar, an eccentric shaft upon which said pressure-bar is supported for horizontal adjustment, means for rotating said shaft and means for independently adjusting the ends of said shaft.

20. In a veneer-cutting machine a pressurebar, an eccentric shaft upon which said pressure-bar is supported for horizontal adjustment, means for rotating said shaft and means for adjusting either end of said shaft toward or from the work independently of the other.

21. In a veneer-cutting machine,a pressurebar, asleeve supporting said pressu re-bar, the points of support being eccentric to the axis of the sleeve whereby said pressure-bar may be adjusted by rotating the sleeve, hangers in'whichthe ends of said sleeve are journaled,

.and means for independently adjusting said hangers transversely of the axis of the sleeve.

22. In a veneer-cutting machine,a pressurebar, a sleeve supporting said pressure-bar, the

. points of support being eccentric to the axis of the sleeve whereby said pressure-bar may be adjusted by rotating the sleeve, hangers in-which the ends of said sleeve are j ournaled, and means for independently adjusting said hangers transversely of the axis of the sleeve and for locking them in said adjusted position.

- 23. In a veneer-cutting machine,a pressurebar, asl'eeve supporting said pressure-bar, the points of support being eccentric to the axis of the sleeve, whereby said pressure-bar may be adjusted by rotating the sleeve, hangers in which the ends of said sleeve are journaled, a knife-carriage pivotally connected to said hangers, and. means for independently adjusting each of said hangers transversely of the sleeve without affecting the position of the knife-carriage.

24. In a veneer cutting machine, slideblocks adapted for location in ways in a suitable framework, a shaft having eccentric bearings in said slide-blocks, a pressure-bar mounted upon said shaft for tilting movement relative thereto,a knife-carriage having hangers connected therewith, said hangers being supported by said shaft and means for rotating said shaft.

25. In' a veneer-cutting machine, slideblocks adapted for location inways in a suitable framework, a shaft having bearings in said slide-blocks, a pressure-bar mounted upon said shaft for tilting movement relative thereto, a knife-carriage having hangers connected therewith, said hangers being support= ed by said shaft eccentrically to the axis of rotation thereof, and means for rotating said shaft.

26. In a veneercutting machine, slideblocks adapted for location in ways in a suitable. framework, a shaft having eccentric bearings in said slide-blocks, a pressure-bar mounted upon said shaft for tilting movement relative thereto,a knife-carriage having hangers pivotally connected therewith, said hangers being supported by said shaft, and means for rotating said shaft.

27. In a veneer-cutting machine, slideblocks adapted for'location in Ways in a suitable framework, -a shaft having eccentric bearings in said slide-blocks, a pressure-bar mounted upon said shaft for tilting movement relative thereto, a pivoted knife-carriage having hangers pivotally connected therewith supported by said shaft, and means for rotating said shaft.

28. In a veneer-cutting machine, slideblocks adapted for location in ways in a suit- IIO able framework, a shaft having eccentric bearings in said slide-blocks, a pressure-bar mounted upon said shaft for tilting movement relative thereto, a knife-carriage having hangers pivotally connected therewith, said hangers being supported from said shaft, and means for adjusting said hangersto and from the work.

29. In a veneer-cutting machine, a shaft having slidable eccentric hearings in suitable supports, a pressure-bar mounted upon said shaft, a'knife-carriage having hangers pivotally connected therewith, said hangers being supported from said shaft, and means for adjusting said hangers toand from the work.

30. In a veneer-cutting machine, a shaft having slidable eccentric hearings in suitable supports, a pressure-bar mounted upon said shaft for tilting movement relative thereto, a pivoted knife-carriage having hangers pivotally connected therewith, said hangers being supported from said shaft, and means for swinging said hangers on their pivots and locking them in adjusted position.

31. In aveneer-cutting machine, apressurebar, hangers with reference to which said pressure-bar is supported for tilting or pivotal movement relative thereto, said hangers being pivoted for movement toward and from the work.

32. In a veneer-cutting machine, a pressurebar, hangers with reference to which said pressure-bar is supported for tilting or pivotal movement relative thereto, said hangers being pivoted, and means for adjusting said hangers on their pivots toward and from the work.

33. Inaveneer-cutting machine,apressurebar, hangers with reference to which said pressure-bar is supported for tilting or pivotal movement relative thereto, said hangers being pivoted, means for adjusting said hangers on their pivots toward and from the work, and locking them in adjusted position.

34. Inaveneer-cutting machine,a pressurebar, hangers with reference to which said pressure-bar is supported for tilting or pivotal movement relative thereto, said hangers being pivoted, means for independently adjusting said hangers on their pivots toward and from the work and locking them in adjusted position.

35. In a veneer-cutting machine, in combination, a knife-carriage, hangers in connection with said carriage, a pressure-bar, said pressure-bar being mounted for tilting or pivotal movement with reference to said hangers, and means for adjusting said hangers to and from thework.

35. In aveneer-cutting machine, in combination, a knife-carriage having hangers pivotally connected therewith, a pressure-bar mounted in said hangers for tilting or pivotal movement relative thereto, and means for ad j usting said hangers to and from the Work.

37. In a veneer-cutting machine, in combi nation, a knife-carriage having hangers pivotally connected therewith, a pressure-bar mounted in said hangers for tilting 0r pivotal movement relative thereto, and means for independently adjusting said hangers to and from the work.

38. In a veneer-cutting machine, a knifecarriage, hangers pivotally'connected therewith, a pressure-bar mounted in said hangers said hangers relatively to said knife-carriage,

and for locking them in adjusted position.

41. In a veneer-cutting machine, a pivoted knife-carriage hangers pivotally connected therewith, a pressure-bar mounted in said hangers for tilting or pivotal movement relative thereto, means for independently adj usting said hangers relatively to said knife-carriage, and means for locking them in adjusted position.

42. In a veneer-cutting machine, an eccentrically-mounted shaft, a pressure-bar mounted on said shaft, a knife-carriage, hangers pivotally connected thereto, said hangers being supported from said shaft.

43. In a veneer-cutting machine, a shaft eccentrically mounted in slidable bearings, a pressure-bar carried by said shaft, a knifecarriage, pivoted hangers connectedto said knife-carriage, said hangers being supported from said shaft, means for rotating said shaft, and means for adjusting said hangers to-and from the work. i

44. In aveneer-cutting machine, a shaft eccentrically mounted in slidable bearings, a pressurebar carried by said shaft, hangers depending from said shaft, a knife-carriage pivotally connected to said hangers, means for rotating said shaft, and'means for independently adj usting said hangers to and from the work.

45. In a veneer-cutting machine, aknifecarriage having hangers connected therewith, a sleeve journaled in said hangers, a pressure-bar mounted on said sleeve for pivotal or tilting movement relative thereto, and an" eccentrically-mounted shaft passing through said sleeve.

46. In a veneer-cutting machine, a knifecarriage having hangers pivotally connnected therewith, a sleeve journaled in said hangers,

a pressure-bar mounted on said sleeve for tilting or pivotal movement relative thereto, and an eccentrically-mounted shaft passing through said sleeve.

47. In a veneer-cutting machine, a pivoted knife-carriage having hangers pivot-ally connected therewith, a sleeve journaled in said hangers, a pressure-bar mounted on said sleeve for pivotal 0r tilting movement relative thereto, and an eccentrically-mounted shaft passing through said sleeve.

48. In a veneer-cutting machine, in combination, a pressure-bar, bearings in connection therewith,an eccentric sleeve passing through said bearings, a shaft passing through said sleeve and eccentrically supported in slidable bearings, a pivoted knife-carriage, hangers pivotally connected to said knife-carriage and supported from said sleeve, means for rotating said shaft, and adjusting-screws in connection with said hangers, whereby said hangers may be independently adjusted toward and from the work.

mounted on said shaft, 2. knife-carriage,

hangers 2 pivotally connected to said .car- 25 movement of the hangers about their pivotal mounting.

51. In a veneer-cutting machine, a suitable frame, pivotally-mounted hangers adj ustably secured to said frame, and a pressure-bar mounted in said hangers for tilting or pivotal movement relative thereto, and free to partake of the movement of the hangers about their pivotal mounting.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

LOUIS MERRITT.

Witnesses:

ROY II. ERNEST, FRANK M. BREDELL. 

